about Charlie Yates
Charlie Yates is a Scottish artist who specializes in oil painting. he began his career at The Loretto School and continued his academic career at the Leith School of Art in 2016 and the Glasgow School of Art from 2016 to 2019.
he recently relocated to Southern California to pursue his master’s of fine art at the California Institute of Art, which he completed in May 2026.
Yates has extensive teaching experiences through his numerous artist-in-residence positions and has been awarded for his success in the field. for example, he was honored with the Aon Community Art Award, the Envision Arts Award, and the Culture NL Art Award, and more.
in terms of his art, each painting he creates explores the profound relationship between nature, climate change, and human influence, reflecting on this interplay's destructive and positive aspects. his work aims to conjure a sense of being 'somewhere else’ by capturing unnoticeable concepts, such as light, from his explorations.
he creates scenes that are deliberately undetermined. his work revolves around atmospheric, nostalgic, and evocative interpretations of cherished personal experiences, celebrating the interconnectedness of our global and natural environments.
during his journey to Kyoto, Japan, he was inspired by the simplicity of nature and the philosophy of 'wabi-sabi,' an appreciation for imperfection. his process encapsulates pristine moments witnessed in his transition from Scotland to California, aiming to highlight the beauty of fleeting and imperfect moments.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 — Into the Light, Rhett Baruch Gallery, Koreatown, Los Angeles, California, 23 October – 21 November
2026 — Pursuit of a Shadow cont., No Signal Studio, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, 1 August – 23 September
2026 — Pursuit of a Shadow, MFA Thesis Exhibition, California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, California, 7–14 February
2025 — Two Harbours, Black Market Gallery, Los Angeles, California, 29 March – 4 May
2025 — In My View, L-Shape Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles, California, 11–18 January
2024 — Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 28 February – 28 May
2022 — BREATHE, The Watermill Gallery, Aberfeldy, Scotland, 14 May – 19 June
2020 — Open Eye Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland, 3–25 April (exhibition title to be confirmed)
2020–2021 — Culture NL Art Award Exhibition, Motherwell Concert Hall & Theatre, North Lanarkshire, Scotland
2019 — The Virgin Mary Bar, Dublin, Ireland
2019 — Quick Before We AirBnB It, Household, Glasgow, Scotland
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025–2026 — Painting Since 2000, Group Exhibition, London, 1 December 2025 – 31 January 2026
2025 — Field Notes, Blue Door Gallery, New York, 6 September – November
2025 — SolCal MFA, Peggy Phelps & East Galleries, Claremont, California, 31 May – 27 June
2024–2025 — Painting Since 2000, Online Group Exhibition, 2 December 2024 – 28 February 2025
2024 — Arranging a Window, Edinburgh, Scotland, 28 April
2023 — Duygu Çorbasi (Emotional Soup), Charitable Group Exhibition for AHBAP, London, 23 February
2022–2023 — Awake Arise | A Winter Show, Irving Contemporary, 3 December 2022 – 28 January 2023
2022–2023 — Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour (RSW) Annual Exhibition, National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, January–February 2023
2020–2021 — Open Eye Gallery Christmas Exhibition, Edinburgh, Scotland, 20 December 2020 – 20 January 2021
2020 — Open Eye Gallery, Group Exhibition with Barbara Rae, Edinburgh, Scotland, 4–29 August
2020 — Envision Arts Award, Online Exhibition, 1–30 July
2020 — The Identity Exhibition, BOS Gallery, Online Exhibition and Magazine, 1–30 June
2019–2020 — Open Eye Gallery Christmas Exhibition, Edinburgh, Scotland, 20 December 2019 – 20 January 2020
2019 — Degree Show, Stow College, The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
2019 — The Leither’s Exhibition, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee, Scotland
2018 — Sobremesa, Wasps Studios, Glasgow, Scotland
2018 — Something Like That, The Glue Factory, Glasgow, Scotland
2017 — Series 2, McLellan Galleries, The Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Scotland
2016 — Work in Progress (WIP), Stereo Café, Glasgow, Scotland
2016 — Maggie’s Centre Edinburgh, Group Exhibition hosted by Gilly Corkery, Edinburgh, Scotland
2016 — Leith School of Art Foundation Show, Edinburgh, Scotland
AWARDS & ART AUCTIONS
2021 — Aon Community Art Award, London, United Kingdom
2022 — Gilson Grey Grace Gala Auction, Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, Scotland, 12 October
2022 — Maggie’s Art Extravaganza, Group Auction and Exhibition, Aberdeen, Scotland, 3–30 December
2021 — Lyon & Turnbull Auction House, Exhibition and Auction, Edinburgh, Scotland, 19 August
2021 — Maggie’s Art Extravaganza, Online Auction, Edinburgh, Scotland, 12–19 August
2019 — Aon Community Art Award Exhibition, Leadenhall Building, London, United Kingdom
ARTIST TALKS & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2026 — Curation and Invigilation, Market Gallery, Los Angeles, 1 November
2023 — Artist Talk, Loretto School, Edinburgh, Scotland, 17 April
2022 — Artist Talk, The Watermill Gallery, Aberfeldy, Scotland, 21 May
2022 — Artist Talk, George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1 February
2021 — Studio Development, Conversion of a 16-foot Craft Shed into a Professional Artist Studio, Rosewell, Edinburgh
2021 — Artist Talk, Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland, 24 October
2020 — Artist Talk, Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1 February
2019 — Summer Art Teaching, Loretto School, Edinburgh, Scotland, June
2018 — Summer Art Teaching, Loretto School, Edinburgh, Scotland, July
2017 — Installation and Invigilation, Koppe Astner Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland, April
2017 — Summer Art Teaching, Loretto School, Edinburgh, Scotland, May